Nine years after the character, Furiosa, was introduced to “Mad Max” fans, a movie about her origins has finally arrived.
“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is a prequel film to “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Though it is not necessary to watch any other “Mad Max” films to understand “Furiosa,” a fuller experience can be gained from watching “Fury Road” first. The movie follows as Furiosa is stolen from her lush home, known as “The Green Place,” and is thrust into a post-apocalyptic wasteland. She fights both for survival and revenge.
“Furiosa” was directed by George Miller, who directed the other “Mad Max” movies. It was written by Miller and Nico Lathouris. The movie stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Brown as the titular character, Furiosa, Brown portraying her as a child, and Taylor-Joy portraying her as an adult.
Highs
Furiosa shined as a central heroine. Having been a high point for “Fury Road” as well, “Furiosa” added greater depth to her character, showing someone motivated to not only survive the wasteland, but to also bring justice to it.
Both Brown and Taylor-Joy delivered gripping performances of the character, especially impressive given how little dialogue both had. In “Fury Road,” Furiosa was originally played by Charlize Theron. Taylor-Joy in particular managed to perfectly mimic her performance; both unmistakably portrayed Furiosa.
The world of “Mad Max” was expanded on as well. Though “Fury Road” already had a well-developed world, “Furiosa” dived even deeper, making the wasteland feel even more full of life.
Both the action and plot were clever, masterfully earning every twist. The film was jammed-pack with details, rewarding viewers who pay careful attention. The twists all managed to toe the line between surprising and well-foreshadowed.
Lows
The movie was a touch too long, especially in some of the action sequences. Due to similar settings, some scenes got repetitive. The movie’s episodic nature led it to feel even longer.
The premise required a high suspension of disbelief, which wasn’t a low point itself. Why would a dystopian movie with such wildly unrealistic violence be, well, realistic? However, even the high unbelievability got pushed too far as some characters survived action and injuries that they most definitely shouldn’t have. At times seeming invincibility lowered the tension.
Chris Hemsworth stars as the primary antagonist, a conquest-hungry warlord called Dementus. Though an intriguing character, Hemsworth’s performance was at times too over-the-top.
Verdict
“Furiosa” is a worthy addition to the “Mad Max” franchise. On its own, it can be enjoyed as an extremely smart post-apocalyptic movie. Along with “Fury Road,” the films complement each other, creating an intricate story about how far people would go for survival.
Rating: 8 out of 10.
